Ceiling panel support system

Abstract

A ceiling panel support system includes a ceiling panel and a mounting bracket. The ceiling panel has an upper part including an elongate support portion, with the support portion having an elongate support channel including a pair of opposing lips defining an elongate opening into the elongate support channel. The mounting bracket has a main body, a holding part configured to be housed within the elongate support channel behind inwardly facing surfaces of the opposing lips, and a leg configured to extend from the main body to the holding part between the opposing lips. The main body includes lower surfaces on either side of the leg configured to face the support portion. The system further includes a securing member that presses the holding part against the inwardly facing surfaces of the opening lips and secures the mounting bracket frictionally along the elongate extent of the panel.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A ceiling panel support system including:
 a ceiling panel having an elongate extent in a longitudinal direction and an elongate support portion from which the panel can be suspended, the support portion having an elongate support channel facing outwardly from the panel, the elongate support channel having a pair of opposing lips defining an elongate opening into the elongate support channel, and the opposing lips having, respectively, inwardly facing surfaces; and 
 a mounting bracket having a main body to be suspended by a carrier, a holding part configured to be housed within the elongate support channel-behind and configured to engage with the inwardly facing surfaces of the opposing lips, and a leg configured to extend from the main body to the holding part between the opposing lips; wherein: 
 the main body of the mounting bracket includes lower surfaces on either side of the leg configured to face the support portion when the mounting bracket is fitted to the ceiling panel with the holding part housed within the elongate support channel; 
 the system further includes a securing member having a base surface configured to engage with the support portion and a top surface configured to engage with the lower surfaces of the mounting bracket, the securing member is configured to be inserted between the support portion and the lower surfaces of the main body of the mounting bracket, and, with the securing member so inserted, the base surface and the top surfaces are configured to provide respective opposing forces on the support portion and the lower surfaces of the mounting bracket respectively, thereby pressing the holding part against the inwardly facing surfaces of the opening lips and securing the mounting bracket frictionally along the elongate extent of the panel; and 
 the securing member is configured to slide relative to both the support portion and the lower surfaces of the mounting bracket and to slide between an unlocked position in which the securing member does not press the mounting bracket and a locked position in which the securing member does press the mounting bracket. 
 
     
     
       2. A ceiling panel support system according to  claim 1  wherein the ceiling panel is a baffle. 
     
     
       3. A ceiling panel support system according to  claim 1  wherein the ceiling panel is a felt baffle. 
     
     
       4. A ceiling panel support system according to  claim 1  wherein the mounting bracket comprises a plate member having opposing cut-outs on opposite respective sides so as to define the leg therebetween and to define the lower surfaces of the main body on opposite respective sides of the leg, wherein the cut-outs also define upper surfaces opposite and facing the respective lower surfaces, the upper surfaces being upper surfaces of the holding part defined by the plate member and configured to face the inwardly facing surfaces of the opposing lips. 
     
     
       5. A ceiling panel support system according to  claim 1  including two of said mounting brackets provided together as a bracket clip wherein, when the bracket clip is mounted to the support portion, the respective legs and the respective main bodies of the two said mounting brackets are aligned in the longitudinal direction. 
     
     
       6. A ceiling panel support system according to  claim 1  wherein the securing member is configured to slide against the support portion in the longitudinal direction. 
     
     
       7. A ceiling panel support system according to  claim 1  wherein the securing member defines a space through which the leg of the mounting bracket can extend, the space extending in a sliding direction of the securing member so that the securing member can press the lower surfaces of the main body of the mounting bracket on either side of the leg and can slide relative to the leg. 
     
     
       8. A ceiling panel support system according to  claim 1  wherein the top surface is inclined relative to the base surface. 
     
     
       9. A ceiling panel support system according to  claim 1  wherein the top surface is substantially parallel with the base surface. 
     
     
       10. A ceiling panel support system according to  claim 9  where the securing member includes a tapered front end. 
     
     
       11. A ceiling panel support system according to  claim 8  wherein the top surface of the securing member is smooth. 
     
     
       12. A ceiling panel support system according to  claim 8  wherein the top surface of the securing member is stepped and includes at least one of notches, grooves and teeth. 
     
     
       13. A ceiling panel support system according to  claim 9  wherein the top surface of the securing member is smooth. 
     
     
       14. A ceiling panel support system according to  claim 9  wherein the top surface of the securing member is stepped and includes at least one of notches, grooves and teeth. 
     
     
       15. A ceiling panel support system including:
 a ceiling panel having an elongate extent in a longitudinal direction and an elongate support portion from which the panel can be suspended, the support portion having an elongate support channel facing outwardly from the panel, the elongate support channel having a pair of opposing lips defining an elongate opening into the elongate support channel, and the opposing lips having, respectively, inwardly facing surfaces; and 
 a mounting bracket having a main body to be suspended by a carrier, a holding part configured to be housed within the elongate support channel and configured to engage with the inwardly facing surfaces of the opposing lips, and a leg configured to extend from the main body to the holding part between the opposing lips; wherein: 
 the main body of the mounting bracket includes lower surfaces on either side of the leg configured to face the support portion when the mounting bracket is fitted to the ceiling panel with the holding part housed within the elongate support channel; 
 the system further includes a securing member having a base surface configured to engage with the support portion and a top surface configured to engage with the lower surfaces of the mounting bracket, the securing member is configured to be inserted between the support portion and the lower surfaces of the main body of the mounting bracket, and, with the securing member so inserted, the base surface and the top surfaces are configured to provide respective opposing forces on the support portion and the lower surfaces of the mounting bracket respectively, thereby pressing the holding part against the inwardly facing surfaces of the opening lips and securing the mounting bracket frictionally along the elongate extent of the panel; and 
 wherein the securing member defines a space through which the leg of the mounting bracket can extend, the space extending in a-sliding direction of the securing member so that the securing member can press the lower surfaces of the main body of the mounting bracket on either side of the leg and can slide relative to the leg. 
 
     
     
       16. A ceiling panel support system including:
 a ceiling panel having an elongate extent in a longitudinal direction and an elongate support portion from which the panel can be suspended, the support portion having an elongate support channel facing outwardly from the panel, the elongate support channel having a pair of opposing lips defining an elongate opening into the elongate support channel, and the opposing lips having, respectively, inwardly facing surfaces; and 
 a mounting bracket having a main body to be suspended by a carrier, a holding part configured to be housed within the elongate support channel and configured to engage with the inwardly facing surfaces of the opposing lips, and a leg configured to extend from the main body to the holding part between the opposing lips; wherein: 
 the main body of the mounting bracket includes lower surfaces on either side of the leg configured to face the support portion when the mounting bracket is fitted to the ceiling panel with the holding part housed within the elongate support channel; 
 the system further includes a securing member having a base surface configured to engage with the support portion and a top surface configured to engage with the lower surfaces of the mounting bracket, the securing member is configured to be inserted between the support portion and the lower surfaces of the main body of the mounting bracket, and, with the securing member so inserted, the base surface and the top surfaces are configured to provide respective opposing forces on the support portion and the lower surfaces of the mounting bracket respectively, thereby pressing the holding part against the inwardly facing surfaces of the opening lips and securing the mounting bracket frictionally along the elongate extent of the panel; and 
 the top surface of the securing member is inclined relative to the base surface of the securing member. 
 
     
     
       17. A ceiling panel support system according to  claim 16  wherein the top surface of the securing member is smooth. 
     
     
       18. A ceiling panel support system according to  claim 16  wherein the top surface of the securing member is stepped and includes at least one of notches, grooves and teeth.